Another East Powerhouse? Boozer & Odom to Heat?

[Prof. Clutch]

i'd love for Miami to take Odom, but how is that gonna happen?

Miami is able to offer 5 years and 34 million...

He already turned down 4 years and 36 million from the Lakers.

Yeah it seems unlikely when you look at it that way, however he does already have a history with Wade and Miami, and he would get back his starting role.  Don't know if thats enough, but it seems to be the biggest chips Miami's got to offer.

[TBreezy]

Its not an equalizer but the lack of a state income tax helps even things out a bit when comparing LA to miami

[Fafnir]

Yeah if they get both of these guys, their lineup will be:

Jermaine O'Neal
Boozer
Odom
Wade
Chalmers

Beasley as 6th man


The trade rumors involving Boozer that I have heard involve Haslem and other parts, so JO would still be around.  Pretty impressive squad.

I was predicting the same starting squad yesterday in the "Lakers pull offer from Lamar Odom thread."  Here's what I wrote:

As a basketball fan that would be incredibly fun.

What do you think the record would be for a Miami team fielding a starting squad of Chalmers, Wade, Odom, Boozer, Jermaine O'Neal?  They wouldn't be incredible, but they would probably be very very good.  With Beasley coming off the bench and of course their number one secret weapon...Mark Blount.

Kidding about the Mark Blount thing of course, but it does bring up and interesting part of it.  Beasley is still young and not incredibly experienced and they don't have much else on their bench.  That starting group would be dynamic, but they would struggle to stay in games with only 6 reliable guys.

I think they'd have to trade Beasley to get Boozer.

[Prof. Clutch]

I think they'd have to trade Beasley to get Boozer.

Well that would certainly change the dynamic of the trade.  Haslem for Boozer is a no brainer.  Giving up your young stud when Boozer has only a one year deal...hmmm.  I don't know about that.

That would definitely signify a "win now" type of move, but with not a very strong bench it would be difficult for them to succeed.  I guess they'd still have Moon though?

[Rondoholic]

I think they'd have to trade Beasley to get Boozer.

From HoopsHype via Yahoo!: "The essentials of a possible deal would include Miami sending forward Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright to Utah. Because Memphis is under the cap, Utah could move Wright’s $2.8 million salary to the Grizzlies and save itself approximately $5.6 million with salary and luxury-tax payments. Memphis would probably get cash and picks for its trouble. The Heat would have to send one more small contract to make the math on the salary exchange work." Yahoo! Sports

Utah is pretty desperate to move Boozer.  They just really want to cut cost, while finding a serviceable player to fill the Millsap role off the bench so that Millsap can fill the Boozer role in the starting lineup.  Haslem is that guy.  They're not going after Beasley I don't think.

[JSD]

A sign and trade is another possibility and I'm sure the Lakers would love a trade like:

Walton,  Vujacic and Odom (45 million 4 years)

for

Jermaine O'neal

Especially if they were going to lose Odom anyway.

[Rondoholic]

A sign and trade is another possibility and I'm sure the Lakers would love a trade like:

Walton,  Vujacic and Odom (45 million 4 years)

for

Jermaine O'neal

Especially if they were going to lose Odom anyway.

Miami wants cap room for next summer to pair another name with Wade...maybe Bosh.  No way, they would do this trade and lock themselves into Walton, Vujacic, and Odom for that pay.  Especially when they could just get Odom for the midlevel (which is more in Florida than other places because no income taxes) and keep O'Neal's expiring contract in pocket.

[JSD]

A sign and trade is another possibility and I'm sure the Lakers would love a trade like:

Walton,  Vujacic and Odom (45 million 4 years)

for

Jermaine O'neal

Especially if they were going to lose Odom anyway.

Miami wants cap room for next summer to pair another name with Wade...maybe Bosh.  No way, they would do this trade and lock themselves into Walton, Vujacic, and Odom for that pay.  Especially when they could just get Odom for the midlevel (which is more in Florida than other places because no income taxes) and keep O'Neal's expiring contract in pocket.

There next summer plans become this summer if they land Boozer and Odom. Even if they land Odom at the MLE they will be at a $48 Million cap number making next summer irrelevant.

Odom is a legit #3 with finals experience. If it takes bringing in Walton who is a solid overpaid role player I still think Miami does it.

[ToppersBsktball10]

. Do they  Beasley at the 3 and Odom at the 4 with Boozer at the 5? Or does Beasly come off the bench with Odom at the 3 and Haslem at the 5? If properly motivated, that's a  stacked frontcourt.

Boozer's only 6' 8", no way he can play center.

[GroverTheClover]

. Do they  Beasley at the 3 and Odom at the 4 with Boozer at the 5? Or does Beasly come off the bench with Odom at the 3 and Haslem at the 5? If properly motivated, that's a  stacked frontcourt.

Boozer's only 6' 8", no way he can play center.

Meh. Big Baby is supposedly 6'9, Ben Wallace was 6'9 and these guys all played center. What centers outside of Shaq, Yao, Bynum, and Dwight really play their size?

[ssspence]

I think they'd have to trade Beasley to get Boozer.

Well that would certainly change the dynamic of the trade.  Haslem for Boozer is a no brainer.  Giving up your young stud when Boozer has only a one year deal...hmmm.  I don't know about that.

That would definitely signify a "win now" type of move, but with not a very strong bench it would be difficult for them to succeed.  I guess they'd still have Moon though?

Utah has NO leverage in trade talks. They're not going to get a player of Beasley's potential in a Boozer deal. They want salary relief. If they get an asset or two in the process, they'll be happy, but the salary relief is the goal.

[hpantazo]

A sign and trade is another possibility and I'm sure the Lakers would love a trade like:

Walton,  Vujacic and Odom (45 million 4 years)

for

Jermaine O'neal

Especially if they were going to lose Odom anyway.

Miami wants cap room for next summer to pair another name with Wade...maybe Bosh.  No way, they would do this trade and lock themselves into Walton, Vujacic, and Odom for that pay.  Especially when they could just get Odom for the midlevel (which is more in Florida than other places because no income taxes) and keep O'Neal's expiring contract in pocket.

I'm not so sure about that. Would you rather have a possible chance at Bosh next year or definitely adding Boozer and Odom now and convincing Wade to sign an extension?

[Fafnir]

A sign and trade is another possibility and I'm sure the Lakers would love a trade like:

Walton,  Vujacic and Odom (45 million 4 years)

for

Jermaine O'neal

Especially if they were going to lose Odom anyway.

Miami wants cap room for next summer to pair another name with Wade...maybe Bosh.  No way, they would do this trade and lock themselves into Walton, Vujacic, and Odom for that pay.  Especially when they could just get Odom for the midlevel (which is more in Florida than other places because no income taxes) and keep O'Neal's expiring contract in pocket.

I'm not so sure about that. Would you rather have a possible chance at Bosh next year or definitely adding Boozer and Odom now and convincing Wade to sign an extension?

You take Boozer/Odom now if you can get them of course.

[GKC]

Boozer's only a single season rental anyway, and with JO's giant expiring, they can still sign a max-contract player.

However, the current rumours assume Odom is willing to accept 6 mill from the heat. If he's not accepting a 8.5 mill 3 year deal from LA, I doubt he'll accept slightly above the MLE.

[StealthB]

Even though Boozer is only for a year they have the option of giving him an extension because they will have his Bird Rights.  Honestly, if you break down the numbers Bosh is not much on an upgrade over Boozer.  If they can get Odom/Boozer now they are crazy not to do it.  Odom won't start in LA even though they are offering more money.  He would start in Miami.